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1. Baltimore Ravens
Under coordinator Rex Ryan, the Baltimore Ravens have one of the most aggressive defensive schemes in the NFL, which places a lot of pressure on the secondary. FS Ed Reed is one of the best safeties in the NFL, while CB Chris McAlister continues to play at a Pro Bowl level. Reed is a versatile player who can play a lot of different roles in the Ravens' coverage schemes. McAlister is a big, physical player who gives the Ravens a premier shutdown corner. He has the responsibility of matching up on a week-to-week basis with the opponent's No.1 receiver. Second-year SS Dawan Landry was a pleasant surprise last season, finishing the season tied for second on the team with five interceptions. CB Samari Rolle is an experienced player whose overall performance has fallen off the past few seasons.
2. Chicago Bears
The Bears were very effective last season stopping opposing offenses on third down. They have three very solid corners who can matchup on the outside versus multiple spread offenses. Starting CB Charles Tillman is a physical corner who plays with good awareness and instincts in the Bears' Tampa-2 system. Right cornerback Nathan Vasher lacks Tillman's size, but is very effective in playing the ball downfield. No. 3 Ricky Manning Jr. also plays bigger than his size and was very effective in the Bears' sub defensive packages. When healthy, SS Mike Brown is a very underrated player. Also, the Bears added Adam Archuleta due to the health concerns surrounding Brown. Archuleta is a favorite of Lovie Smith and will compete for the starting SS position. FS Danieal Manning has very good speed and extended range in deep zones.
3. Denver Broncos
Simply put, Champ Bailey is the best corner in the NFL. He is a shutdown corner with the ability to take the opposing team's No. 1 receiver out of the game. And he is a willing insert player and an effective tackler in run support. Dre' Bly, who the Broncos acquired in an offseason trade with the Lions, will replace the late Darrent Williams. Bly is a good No. 2 corner with outstanding ball skills. There is solid depth at the corner position in Domonique Foxworth and Karl Paymah. Veteran John Lynch continues to be effective as the starting free safety. He is the leader of the secondary, with outstanding instincts and intangibles to play the position. Nick Ferguson is expected to start at SS. Ferguson is an adequate starter who finished last season on injured reserve.
4. Oakland Raiders
One of the few bright spots for the Raiders last season was the performance of their defense. The Raiders do a great job of mixing loaded-zone concepts with pressure. Nnamdi Asomugha is a big, physical corner with a tremendous upside to develop into a frontline No. 1 in the NFL. He is an athletic player with very good transition skills when matching up in coverage. CB Fabian Washington is a young developing player who lacks the size of Asomugha. However, he is a solid No. 2 corner with the upside to develop into a top-notch player. SS Michael Huff is a tough, physical player with good positional versatility on the backend in coverage. Look for Huff's responsibilities within the schemes to increase in 2007. FS Stuart Schweigert is a young, smart, instinctive player who handles the calls and adjustments within the secondary.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson loves to attack with multiple pressure packages that allow his secondary to make game-changing plays. The Eagles' secondary is led by SS Brian Dawkins. Dawkins is still a very versatile player in the Eagles' defensive schemes. He is a physical player who can still be very productive in both regular and sub defensive packages. SS Sean Considine is a definite upgrade over Michael Lewis in coverage, but needs to continue to develop his total body strength. Corners Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown are very effective on the outside. Sheppard is a good starting left corner with instincts and the ability to matchup with premier receivers in the NFL. Brown is a tough, physical player who plays bigger than his listed size. Backups William James and Joselio Hanson provide good depth at the corner position.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars released starting strong safety Donovin Darius this past offseason. Darius had durability issues the past few seasons, but is still a very productive player against the run and an outstanding leader in the secondary. With that said, the Jaguars still possess a very good secondary, starting with corners Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams. Mathis has all the tools to develop into a solid No. 1 corner in the NFL, while Williams is a versatile player who has the experience to match up either on the inside or outside versus multiple spread offenses. First-round pick Reggie Nelson is expected to replace last year's starting FS, Deon Grant. Nelson is an instinctive playmaker who should excel on the backend in coverage due to his speed and range. SS Gerald Sensabaugh is expected to replace Darius, and handle the adjustments and calls within the secondary.
7. Dallas Cowboys
New defensive coordinator Brian Stewart will rely on more pressure schemes, which should improve the performance in the Cowboys' secondary. CB Terence Newman is one of the top players at his position in the NFL. He is a very good athlete with outstanding coverage ability and ball skills. Anthony Henry is a physical corner who is more natural from a press than off position. However, he must play with more consistency this season. Backup Aaron Glenn is an experienced player who is best suited in the slot in sub situations. SS Roy Williams is best suited up near the line of scrimmage where he can factor in as the eighth defender in the box. He has outstanding physical traits but is a liability in deep zones against the pass. FS Ken Hamlin was signed this offseason and should improve a pass defense that finished 14th in the NFL last season.
8. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers were one of the most aggressive teams in free agency this past offseason. The focus was on addressing their defense due to the explosive offenses they face in the NFC West. Newly-signed corner Nate Clements should improve a pass defense that finished 26th in the NFL. Clement has very good size, speed, quickness and playmaking skills. He will allow the 49ers to match up out on the outside versus multiple groupings. Walt Harris is a solid No. 2 corner who played well in 2006, while backup corner Shawntae Spencer is a solid No. 3. SS Michael Lewis was another solid addition this offseason and should be a strong factor against the run. Lewis is a physical, downhill player in run support, but he can be a liability on the backend in coverage. FS Mark Roman is a smart, instinctive player who has good position versatility.
9. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are one of the most talented teams in the NFL. CB Quentin Jammer played at a very high level last season. He has all the intangibles to develop into a solid frontline player in the NFL and is the Chargers' No. 1 corner. Drayton Florence will have his hands full fighting Antonio Cromartie -- last year's first-round pick -- for the starting CB position opposite Jammer. Cromartie is a big, physical player with a tremendous amount of talent, but he lacks experience as a starter. With that said, the Chargers have three talented corners to match up in the AFC West. FS Marlon McCree is a consistent player who has good recognition skills and instincts. He has good ball skills and handles the calls in the secondary. Clinton Hart and rookie second-round pick Eric Weddle will battle for the starting SS position.
10. Washington Commanders
The Commanders have a very talented secondary that struggled with consistency and durability last season under defensive coordinator Greg Williams. The duo of FS Sean Taylor and SS LaRon Landry gives the Commanders a tremendous amount of versatility in the backend of their secondary. Taylor is a big, playmaking safety with good athletic skills, while Landry has the upside to develop into a Pro Bowl player. However, Taylor needs to play with more consistency in 2007. CB Shawn Springs is the team's most consistent player in the secondary when healthy. Springs has good cover skills and can match up with the opponent's No. 1 receiver. CB Carlos Rogers is a physical player who can be a liability in coverage due to his inconsistent play. The Commanders have a lot of depth at corner in David Macklin, Fred Smoot and Jerametrius Butler.
11. New England Patriots
Defensively, the Patriots utilize a lot of different personnel to create individual matchups they can exploit on the back end. Franchise corner Asante Samuel is a smart, instinctive player with very good anticipation and ball skills. However, he is unhappy about his contract status and could hold out when the season starts, which would hinder this secondary even more. Veteran Chad Scott would replace Samuel in the starting lineup. Ellis Hobbs is an undersized corner with good physical traits and toughness. SS Rodney Harrison is the leader of the secondary due to his physical style of play, but his skills are declining and he has durability concerns. FS Eugene Wilson is a versatile player who missed a lot of time last season due to injuries. First-round pick Brandon Meriweather should ease some of the concerns at the safety position.
12. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have talented corners who need to play at a higher level in 2007. Starters Ken Lucas and Chris Gamble struggled to play with consistency last season, but both players are extremely talented. However, second-year player Richard Marshall might be the best player of the group. He played very well last season and should compete for a starting job this season. This trio allows the Panthers to match up in sub packages and play conservatively when attacking the quarterback in the pocket. However, this team does have some concerns at the safety positions. FS Mike Minter is a liability in coverage who lacks speed and range on the back end in deep zones, while SS Nate Salley is a young, developing player who has yet to start an NFL game. The Panthers also lack depth at safety.
13. Cincinnati Bengals
In the last two NFL drafts, the Bengals have addressed the cornerback position in the first round with the selections of Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall. Joseph is a very good athlete who has the ability to develop into a frontline starting corner in the NFL. Hall is a solid technician who should contribute as the Bengals' No. 3 corner in sub packages, as he slowly works his way into the starting lineup. Deltha O'Neal is coming off a disappointing season in which he gave up a lot of big plays. FS Madieu Williams is a versatile player with very good athletic and playmaking skills. He is effective versus both the run and pass. SS Dexter Jackson is an experienced player who is best-suited to defend the run close to the line of scrimmage.
14. Seattle Seahawks
Former Falcons head coach Jim Mora takes over a secondary that allowed a lot of big plays in 2006. The Seahawks were aggressive in the offseason in addressing the safety position. Newly signed Deon Grant replaces Ken Hamlin as the starting FS. Grant is a dependable player who is better in coverage than against the run. Michael Boulware will compete with Brian Russell for the starting strong safety position. Boulware really struggled last season, while Russell is an instinctive player with good physical traits. Starting CB Marcus Trufant is the best player in the secondary. Trufant is a talented player with very good cover skills. Former first-round pick Kelly Jennings should hold down the spot opposite Trufant. Jennings is an undersized corner with good athletic skills and instincts. Both Jordan Babineaux and this year's second-round pick, Josh Wilson, provide solid depth on the back end.
15. New Orleans Saints
If the Saints are going to get past the NFC Championship Game, they must find a way to cause more turnovers. The offseason addition of former Colts CBJason David, along with a healthy SS in Roman Harper, should improve the playmaking ability on the back end. David is a short corner who plays bigger than his size and has good cover skills. Mike McKenzie is a solid No. 2 corner with good physical traits and instincts, but his skills started to decline last season. Harper played in only five games last season before being placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Harper is a versatile player who can be very effective in the box. FS Josh Bullocks is a young, developing player who needs to play with more consistency. Newly signed safety Kevin Kaesviharn should compete with Bullocks for the starting FS position.
16. Green Bay Packers
The Packers' secondary is led by corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Harris has good overall cover skills and is more natural from a press than off position. Woodson is a smart, instinctive player who understands concepts and pattern recognition, but his skills are starting to diminish and he is best-suited for the role of No. 2 corner. Backup corner Frank Walker likely will assume the third corner position. FS Nick Collins has good athletic skills and range in deep zones, but he needs to make more plays on the ball in coverage. SS Marquand Manuel struggled last season and needs to play with more consistency versus both the run and pass. Rookie third-round pick Aaron Rouse should get the chance to compete with Manuel for the starting strong safety position. Rouse is a big safety who looks best-suited for playing in the box near the line of scrimmage.
17. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have an intriguing, young secondary led by SS Bob Sanders. Sanders is a perfect fit for the Colts' Tampa 2 defensive schemes. He is a versatile player with outstanding physical traits when attacking the line of scrimmage. Even though the Colts lost both starting corners in Jason David and Nick Harper, they still have some young, talented players with strong upside. Marlin Jackson is a versatile player with the size and strength to be effective as a press corner. Kelvin Hayden and Tim Jennings will compete for a starting CB position. Jennings is a small corner with very good speed and quickness, while Hayden is a bigger corner with good ball skills. FS Antoine Bethea is a good young player who excels in run support and has a strong knack for being around the ball in deep zones.
18. Buffalo Bills
The departure of cornerback Nate Clements is a serious blow to a secondary that finished seventh in the NFL in pass defense last season. However, the Bills have two young, productive safeties in SS Donte Whitner and FS Ko Simpson. Whitner is a smart, instinctive player with good physical traits when attacking the line of scrimmage. Simpson is better in coverage than run support at this stage of his development. The Bills are thin on experience at the backup safety positions. Terrence McGee is the Bills' best cover corner, but he lacks the size to match up with bigger receivers. Second-year player Ashton Youboty and newly signed Jason Webster should compete for the spot opposite McGee. The Bills have good depth at corner with Kiwaukee Thomas and Jabari Greer.
19. Atlanta Falcons
If the Falcons are going to get back into the NFC South race, they must improve their performance in coverage on the back end. CB DeAngelo Hall is the best player in the secondary and has all the physical skills to develop into a shut-down corner in the NFL. The CB position is a major concern due to the inexperience of last year's second-round pick, Jimmy Williams, and this year's second-round pick, Chris Houston. Williams is a versatile player who will also work in the rotation at FS. Newly signed Lewis Sanders will also compete at the right corner position. The Falcons must get better production at the safety positions in sub passing situations. SS Lawyer Milloy is at his best versus the run, while FS Chris Crocker has questionable instincts and struggled in pass coverage last season.
20. Minnesota Vikings
New defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier must find creative ways to pressure quarterbacks this season and take pressure off a secondary that finished 31st in the NFL in pass defense last season. Antoine Winfield is a physical press corner with outstanding instincts and playmaking skills. Cedric Griffin is a good, young player who replaced Fred Smoot as the starting right corner during last season; Griffin is a physical player with good size and above-average cover skills. Rookie Marcus McCauley is a talented player who should contribute a lot in the Vikings' sub defensive packages. SS Darren Sharper is a smart, instinctive player with very good ball skills. FS Dwight Smith is a talented player who can be inconsistent at times in coverage on the back end. The Vikings also have a lot of depth at safety with Mike Doss and Tank Williams.
21. New York Jets
The Jets have a solid combination of safeties in Erik Coleman and Kerry Rhodes. Coleman is a smart, instinctive player who takes good downfield angles in run support. He is an effective tackler in open space, but he can be a liability with his extended range in deep zones. Rhodes played at a high level last season. While the safety position is the strength of this secondary, the Jets still have some major concerns at the corner position. Andre Dyson is the team's most experienced corner, but he is best-suited for a No. 2 role. David Barrett and Justin Miller give the Jets solid depth at the position. Look for first-round pick Darrelle Revis to assume a starting CB position before the start of the season, which should improve the Jets' overall ranking.
22. Miami Dolphins
SS Yeremiah Bell is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. He is a physical run-support player and has a good knack for being around the ball in coverage. FS Renaldo Hill is a versatile player who allows the Dolphins to match up better versus multiple sets in sub defenses. Last year's first-round pick, Jason Allen, has a tremendous amount of ability to play either safety or corner, if he gains more confidence. Allen struggled to learn the Dolphins' complex system and was moved to corner this past offseason. Starting corners Will Allen and Andre' Goodman, along with third corner Travis Daniels, give the Dolphins a good group to compete in the AFC East. Allen is a tough, aggressive player with speed and quickness, while Goodman is a solid starting cornerback but has some durability concerns.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers' defense really struggled during the 2006 season due to age and declining skills. Ronde Barber is the best and most experienced player of this group. He is an ideal Cover 2 corner who can be physical at the line of scrimmage with good cover skills. He is a very instinctive player who understands route concepts and recognition. When healthy, Brian Kelly has very good athletic skills and coverage ability and is a solid corner opposite Barber. Safeties Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen have very good physical traits, but they didn't play with a lot of consistency last season on the second level. Both players can be effective versus the run but are a liability in coverage on the back end.
24. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs lack a true shut-down corner to match up on the outside versus the opponent's No. 1 receiver. However, they still have two experienced corners in Ty Law and Patrick Surtain who can hold up in head coach Herman Edwards' Cover 2 schemes. Law is a physical corner with outstanding instincts and pattern-recognition skills. Surtain is a solid corner who can be physical from a press alignment; he has good physical traits as an open-field tackler. Both players are on the downside of their careers. FS Greg Wesley is a physical player versus the run but is a liability in coverage in deep zones. Starting SS Bernard Pollard is a good young player who excelled on special teams last season, but he lacks experience as a starter in the NFL.
25. Tennessee Titans
The suspension of Pacman Jones will limit this secondary from a coverage standpoint in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's system. However, the addition of Nick Harper (Colts), Kelly Herndon (Seahawks) and first-round pick Michael Griffin should help lesson the blow on the back end when matching up versus multiple spread formations. Harper is a solid No. 2 corner who plays bigger than his size, while Herndon is best-suited as a backup corner in sub packages. Griffin is a versatile player who can play corner and safety. That said, the Titans still lack a No. 1 cover corner. Starting SS Chris Hope was the most consistent player in the secondary last season versus both the run and pass; he covered up for the weakness of FS Lamont Thompson on the back end.
26. Arizona Cardinals
Pro Bowl SS Adrian Wilson is the best and most versatile player in the Cardinals' secondary. Wilson is a big, physical player who can be effective near the line of scrimmage against the run. He handles a lot of different roles in the Cardinals' complex defensive schemes. Terrence Holt was signed away from the Lions this offseason and is expected to handle the FS position. Holt is a smart, instinctive player, though he lacks ideal speed and range on the back end in deep zones. CB Antrel Rolle, the team's 2005 first-round pick, has been slow in his development and really needs to step up his performance in 2007. Roderick Hood is nothing more than a backup third corner, and Eric Green is expected to battle for the starting CB spot opposite Rolle.
27. St. Louis Rams
CB Tye Hill is a young, developing player who showed good potential as a starter in 2006. Hill is an explosive athlete with top-end speed and natural playmaking skills. He has the ability to develop into the No. 1 corner the Rams desperately need. Starting CB Fakhir Brown is an experienced corner, but he is better-suited as a backup with additional value on special teams. Meanwhile, last year's third corner, Ron Bartell, was very productive in the Rams' sub defensive packages and should compete with Brown and third-round pick Jonathan Wade for the other starting CB position. SS Corey Chavous is a smart, instinctive player who is better against the run than pass at this stage of his career. FS Oshiomogho Atogwe displayed good growth last season and was probably the Rams' most consistent player in '06.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have a lot of question marks regarding coverage on the back end heading into the 2007 season. SS Troy Polamalu is one of the best players at his position in the NFL. He is excellent against the run with his physical stature and playmaking skills. Ryan Clark was the starting FS last year but is best-suited as a backup and could be replaced by second-year player Anthony Smith. Smith is a big, athletic safety who should develop into a frontline starter in time, but he lacks starting experience. CB Deshea Townsend is an experienced starter who lacks size and is best-suited as a backup. Ike Taylor really struggled last season due to his lack of confidence and was replaced by Bryant McFadden. McFadden is an intriguing young player who should compete with Taylor in training camp for a starting CB position.
29. Cleveland Browns
Leigh Bodden is the Browns' best corner, and he has the size and athleticism to be effective on the outside in both regular and sub defensive packages. Experienced CB Gary Baxter continues to be a disappointment due to injuries and may never play again after suffering a patellar tendon injury in both knees last season. Rookie second-round pick Eric Wright should battle backup journeymen Kenny Wright and Daven Holly for the starting position opposite Bodden. Wright has all the tools to develop into a frontline starter, but he lacks experience. SS Sean Jones is a good player with physical traits and playmaking skills. Brodney Pool is expected to be the starting free safety opposite Jones. Pool is a young, developing player who moved into the starting lineup late in the 2006 season.
30. Detroit Lions
Even though backup corner Stanley Wilson showed steady improvement throughout last season, the departure of Dre' Bly (Broncos) leaves the Lions without a true No. 1 corner. Wilson is an intriguing young player based on his athleticism, size and cover skills, while Bly was a poor fit in the Lions' Tampa 2 style defense. Newly signed corner Travis Fisher (Rams) will also compete for Bly's job if he can stay healthy. Starting CB Fernando Bryant is an experienced player who lacks size, and his skills are declining. SS Kenoy Kennedy is a physical player versus the run who is at his best near the line of scrimmage, while last year's second-round pick, Daniel Bullocks, will replace Terrence Holt as the starting FS position.
31. New York Giants
Starting CB Corey Webster has struggled in his development. Webster is a very good athlete with outstanding size for the position. However, he has struggled with consistency and durability in his short NFL career. Sam Madison is a declining player who lacks the physical skills to match up with No. 1 receivers. FS Will Demps is a smart, instinctive player who continues to overcome a major knee injury, but he lacks the ideal playmaking skills expected from the position. SS Gibril Wilson is an aggressive young player who is better against the run than the pass. The addition of first-round pick Aaron Ross should improve a questionable secondary.
32. Houston Texans
The Texans' secondary is a work in progress that showed improvement late in the 2006 season. Starting CB Dunta Robinson is a young, developing player; he is easily the best player in the secondary. He has the physical skills and upside to develop into a solid No. 1 corner in the NFL. DeMarcus Faggins should start opposite Robinson. He is a short, undersized corner who is best-suited as a backup. Starting safeties Glenn Earl and C.C. Brown have yet to provide the playmaking skills on the back end that the Texans so desperately need. Brown is a young, versatile player who is better versus the run than the pass at this stage of his development, while Earl still needs to become more consistent against the pass.
Under coordinator Rex Ryan, the Baltimore Ravens have one of the most aggressive defensive schemes in the NFL, which places a lot of pressure on the secondary. FS Ed Reed is one of the best safeties in the NFL, while CB Chris McAlister continues to play at a Pro Bowl level. Reed is a versatile player who can play a lot of different roles in the Ravens' coverage schemes. McAlister is a big, physical player who gives the Ravens a premier shutdown corner. He has the responsibility of matching up on a week-to-week basis with the opponent's No.1 receiver. Second-year SS Dawan Landry was a pleasant surprise last season, finishing the season tied for second on the team with five interceptions. CB Samari Rolle is an experienced player whose overall performance has fallen off the past few seasons.
2. Chicago Bears
The Bears were very effective last season stopping opposing offenses on third down. They have three very solid corners who can matchup on the outside versus multiple spread offenses. Starting CB Charles Tillman is a physical corner who plays with good awareness and instincts in the Bears' Tampa-2 system. Right cornerback Nathan Vasher lacks Tillman's size, but is very effective in playing the ball downfield. No. 3 Ricky Manning Jr. also plays bigger than his size and was very effective in the Bears' sub defensive packages. When healthy, SS Mike Brown is a very underrated player. Also, the Bears added Adam Archuleta due to the health concerns surrounding Brown. Archuleta is a favorite of Lovie Smith and will compete for the starting SS position. FS Danieal Manning has very good speed and extended range in deep zones.
3. Denver Broncos
Simply put, Champ Bailey is the best corner in the NFL. He is a shutdown corner with the ability to take the opposing team's No. 1 receiver out of the game. And he is a willing insert player and an effective tackler in run support. Dre' Bly, who the Broncos acquired in an offseason trade with the Lions, will replace the late Darrent Williams. Bly is a good No. 2 corner with outstanding ball skills. There is solid depth at the corner position in Domonique Foxworth and Karl Paymah. Veteran John Lynch continues to be effective as the starting free safety. He is the leader of the secondary, with outstanding instincts and intangibles to play the position. Nick Ferguson is expected to start at SS. Ferguson is an adequate starter who finished last season on injured reserve.
4. Oakland Raiders
One of the few bright spots for the Raiders last season was the performance of their defense. The Raiders do a great job of mixing loaded-zone concepts with pressure. Nnamdi Asomugha is a big, physical corner with a tremendous upside to develop into a frontline No. 1 in the NFL. He is an athletic player with very good transition skills when matching up in coverage. CB Fabian Washington is a young developing player who lacks the size of Asomugha. However, he is a solid No. 2 corner with the upside to develop into a top-notch player. SS Michael Huff is a tough, physical player with good positional versatility on the backend in coverage. Look for Huff's responsibilities within the schemes to increase in 2007. FS Stuart Schweigert is a young, smart, instinctive player who handles the calls and adjustments within the secondary.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson loves to attack with multiple pressure packages that allow his secondary to make game-changing plays. The Eagles' secondary is led by SS Brian Dawkins. Dawkins is still a very versatile player in the Eagles' defensive schemes. He is a physical player who can still be very productive in both regular and sub defensive packages. SS Sean Considine is a definite upgrade over Michael Lewis in coverage, but needs to continue to develop his total body strength. Corners Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown are very effective on the outside. Sheppard is a good starting left corner with instincts and the ability to matchup with premier receivers in the NFL. Brown is a tough, physical player who plays bigger than his listed size. Backups William James and Joselio Hanson provide good depth at the corner position.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars released starting strong safety Donovin Darius this past offseason. Darius had durability issues the past few seasons, but is still a very productive player against the run and an outstanding leader in the secondary. With that said, the Jaguars still possess a very good secondary, starting with corners Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams. Mathis has all the tools to develop into a solid No. 1 corner in the NFL, while Williams is a versatile player who has the experience to match up either on the inside or outside versus multiple spread offenses. First-round pick Reggie Nelson is expected to replace last year's starting FS, Deon Grant. Nelson is an instinctive playmaker who should excel on the backend in coverage due to his speed and range. SS Gerald Sensabaugh is expected to replace Darius, and handle the adjustments and calls within the secondary.
7. Dallas Cowboys
New defensive coordinator Brian Stewart will rely on more pressure schemes, which should improve the performance in the Cowboys' secondary. CB Terence Newman is one of the top players at his position in the NFL. He is a very good athlete with outstanding coverage ability and ball skills. Anthony Henry is a physical corner who is more natural from a press than off position. However, he must play with more consistency this season. Backup Aaron Glenn is an experienced player who is best suited in the slot in sub situations. SS Roy Williams is best suited up near the line of scrimmage where he can factor in as the eighth defender in the box. He has outstanding physical traits but is a liability in deep zones against the pass. FS Ken Hamlin was signed this offseason and should improve a pass defense that finished 14th in the NFL last season.
8. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers were one of the most aggressive teams in free agency this past offseason. The focus was on addressing their defense due to the explosive offenses they face in the NFC West. Newly-signed corner Nate Clements should improve a pass defense that finished 26th in the NFL. Clement has very good size, speed, quickness and playmaking skills. He will allow the 49ers to match up out on the outside versus multiple groupings. Walt Harris is a solid No. 2 corner who played well in 2006, while backup corner Shawntae Spencer is a solid No. 3. SS Michael Lewis was another solid addition this offseason and should be a strong factor against the run. Lewis is a physical, downhill player in run support, but he can be a liability on the backend in coverage. FS Mark Roman is a smart, instinctive player who has good position versatility.
9. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are one of the most talented teams in the NFL. CB Quentin Jammer played at a very high level last season. He has all the intangibles to develop into a solid frontline player in the NFL and is the Chargers' No. 1 corner. Drayton Florence will have his hands full fighting Antonio Cromartie -- last year's first-round pick -- for the starting CB position opposite Jammer. Cromartie is a big, physical player with a tremendous amount of talent, but he lacks experience as a starter. With that said, the Chargers have three talented corners to match up in the AFC West. FS Marlon McCree is a consistent player who has good recognition skills and instincts. He has good ball skills and handles the calls in the secondary. Clinton Hart and rookie second-round pick Eric Weddle will battle for the starting SS position.
10. Washington Commanders
The Commanders have a very talented secondary that struggled with consistency and durability last season under defensive coordinator Greg Williams. The duo of FS Sean Taylor and SS LaRon Landry gives the Commanders a tremendous amount of versatility in the backend of their secondary. Taylor is a big, playmaking safety with good athletic skills, while Landry has the upside to develop into a Pro Bowl player. However, Taylor needs to play with more consistency in 2007. CB Shawn Springs is the team's most consistent player in the secondary when healthy. Springs has good cover skills and can match up with the opponent's No. 1 receiver. CB Carlos Rogers is a physical player who can be a liability in coverage due to his inconsistent play. The Commanders have a lot of depth at corner in David Macklin, Fred Smoot and Jerametrius Butler.
11. New England Patriots
Defensively, the Patriots utilize a lot of different personnel to create individual matchups they can exploit on the back end. Franchise corner Asante Samuel is a smart, instinctive player with very good anticipation and ball skills. However, he is unhappy about his contract status and could hold out when the season starts, which would hinder this secondary even more. Veteran Chad Scott would replace Samuel in the starting lineup. Ellis Hobbs is an undersized corner with good physical traits and toughness. SS Rodney Harrison is the leader of the secondary due to his physical style of play, but his skills are declining and he has durability concerns. FS Eugene Wilson is a versatile player who missed a lot of time last season due to injuries. First-round pick Brandon Meriweather should ease some of the concerns at the safety position.
12. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have talented corners who need to play at a higher level in 2007. Starters Ken Lucas and Chris Gamble struggled to play with consistency last season, but both players are extremely talented. However, second-year player Richard Marshall might be the best player of the group. He played very well last season and should compete for a starting job this season. This trio allows the Panthers to match up in sub packages and play conservatively when attacking the quarterback in the pocket. However, this team does have some concerns at the safety positions. FS Mike Minter is a liability in coverage who lacks speed and range on the back end in deep zones, while SS Nate Salley is a young, developing player who has yet to start an NFL game. The Panthers also lack depth at safety.
13. Cincinnati Bengals
In the last two NFL drafts, the Bengals have addressed the cornerback position in the first round with the selections of Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall. Joseph is a very good athlete who has the ability to develop into a frontline starting corner in the NFL. Hall is a solid technician who should contribute as the Bengals' No. 3 corner in sub packages, as he slowly works his way into the starting lineup. Deltha O'Neal is coming off a disappointing season in which he gave up a lot of big plays. FS Madieu Williams is a versatile player with very good athletic and playmaking skills. He is effective versus both the run and pass. SS Dexter Jackson is an experienced player who is best-suited to defend the run close to the line of scrimmage.
14. Seattle Seahawks
Former Falcons head coach Jim Mora takes over a secondary that allowed a lot of big plays in 2006. The Seahawks were aggressive in the offseason in addressing the safety position. Newly signed Deon Grant replaces Ken Hamlin as the starting FS. Grant is a dependable player who is better in coverage than against the run. Michael Boulware will compete with Brian Russell for the starting strong safety position. Boulware really struggled last season, while Russell is an instinctive player with good physical traits. Starting CB Marcus Trufant is the best player in the secondary. Trufant is a talented player with very good cover skills. Former first-round pick Kelly Jennings should hold down the spot opposite Trufant. Jennings is an undersized corner with good athletic skills and instincts. Both Jordan Babineaux and this year's second-round pick, Josh Wilson, provide solid depth on the back end.
15. New Orleans Saints
If the Saints are going to get past the NFC Championship Game, they must find a way to cause more turnovers. The offseason addition of former Colts CBJason David, along with a healthy SS in Roman Harper, should improve the playmaking ability on the back end. David is a short corner who plays bigger than his size and has good cover skills. Mike McKenzie is a solid No. 2 corner with good physical traits and instincts, but his skills started to decline last season. Harper played in only five games last season before being placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Harper is a versatile player who can be very effective in the box. FS Josh Bullocks is a young, developing player who needs to play with more consistency. Newly signed safety Kevin Kaesviharn should compete with Bullocks for the starting FS position.
16. Green Bay Packers
The Packers' secondary is led by corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Harris has good overall cover skills and is more natural from a press than off position. Woodson is a smart, instinctive player who understands concepts and pattern recognition, but his skills are starting to diminish and he is best-suited for the role of No. 2 corner. Backup corner Frank Walker likely will assume the third corner position. FS Nick Collins has good athletic skills and range in deep zones, but he needs to make more plays on the ball in coverage. SS Marquand Manuel struggled last season and needs to play with more consistency versus both the run and pass. Rookie third-round pick Aaron Rouse should get the chance to compete with Manuel for the starting strong safety position. Rouse is a big safety who looks best-suited for playing in the box near the line of scrimmage.
17. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have an intriguing, young secondary led by SS Bob Sanders. Sanders is a perfect fit for the Colts' Tampa 2 defensive schemes. He is a versatile player with outstanding physical traits when attacking the line of scrimmage. Even though the Colts lost both starting corners in Jason David and Nick Harper, they still have some young, talented players with strong upside. Marlin Jackson is a versatile player with the size and strength to be effective as a press corner. Kelvin Hayden and Tim Jennings will compete for a starting CB position. Jennings is a small corner with very good speed and quickness, while Hayden is a bigger corner with good ball skills. FS Antoine Bethea is a good young player who excels in run support and has a strong knack for being around the ball in deep zones.
18. Buffalo Bills
The departure of cornerback Nate Clements is a serious blow to a secondary that finished seventh in the NFL in pass defense last season. However, the Bills have two young, productive safeties in SS Donte Whitner and FS Ko Simpson. Whitner is a smart, instinctive player with good physical traits when attacking the line of scrimmage. Simpson is better in coverage than run support at this stage of his development. The Bills are thin on experience at the backup safety positions. Terrence McGee is the Bills' best cover corner, but he lacks the size to match up with bigger receivers. Second-year player Ashton Youboty and newly signed Jason Webster should compete for the spot opposite McGee. The Bills have good depth at corner with Kiwaukee Thomas and Jabari Greer.
19. Atlanta Falcons
If the Falcons are going to get back into the NFC South race, they must improve their performance in coverage on the back end. CB DeAngelo Hall is the best player in the secondary and has all the physical skills to develop into a shut-down corner in the NFL. The CB position is a major concern due to the inexperience of last year's second-round pick, Jimmy Williams, and this year's second-round pick, Chris Houston. Williams is a versatile player who will also work in the rotation at FS. Newly signed Lewis Sanders will also compete at the right corner position. The Falcons must get better production at the safety positions in sub passing situations. SS Lawyer Milloy is at his best versus the run, while FS Chris Crocker has questionable instincts and struggled in pass coverage last season.
20. Minnesota Vikings
New defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier must find creative ways to pressure quarterbacks this season and take pressure off a secondary that finished 31st in the NFL in pass defense last season. Antoine Winfield is a physical press corner with outstanding instincts and playmaking skills. Cedric Griffin is a good, young player who replaced Fred Smoot as the starting right corner during last season; Griffin is a physical player with good size and above-average cover skills. Rookie Marcus McCauley is a talented player who should contribute a lot in the Vikings' sub defensive packages. SS Darren Sharper is a smart, instinctive player with very good ball skills. FS Dwight Smith is a talented player who can be inconsistent at times in coverage on the back end. The Vikings also have a lot of depth at safety with Mike Doss and Tank Williams.
21. New York Jets
The Jets have a solid combination of safeties in Erik Coleman and Kerry Rhodes. Coleman is a smart, instinctive player who takes good downfield angles in run support. He is an effective tackler in open space, but he can be a liability with his extended range in deep zones. Rhodes played at a high level last season. While the safety position is the strength of this secondary, the Jets still have some major concerns at the corner position. Andre Dyson is the team's most experienced corner, but he is best-suited for a No. 2 role. David Barrett and Justin Miller give the Jets solid depth at the position. Look for first-round pick Darrelle Revis to assume a starting CB position before the start of the season, which should improve the Jets' overall ranking.
22. Miami Dolphins
SS Yeremiah Bell is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. He is a physical run-support player and has a good knack for being around the ball in coverage. FS Renaldo Hill is a versatile player who allows the Dolphins to match up better versus multiple sets in sub defenses. Last year's first-round pick, Jason Allen, has a tremendous amount of ability to play either safety or corner, if he gains more confidence. Allen struggled to learn the Dolphins' complex system and was moved to corner this past offseason. Starting corners Will Allen and Andre' Goodman, along with third corner Travis Daniels, give the Dolphins a good group to compete in the AFC East. Allen is a tough, aggressive player with speed and quickness, while Goodman is a solid starting cornerback but has some durability concerns.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers' defense really struggled during the 2006 season due to age and declining skills. Ronde Barber is the best and most experienced player of this group. He is an ideal Cover 2 corner who can be physical at the line of scrimmage with good cover skills. He is a very instinctive player who understands route concepts and recognition. When healthy, Brian Kelly has very good athletic skills and coverage ability and is a solid corner opposite Barber. Safeties Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen have very good physical traits, but they didn't play with a lot of consistency last season on the second level. Both players can be effective versus the run but are a liability in coverage on the back end.
24. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs lack a true shut-down corner to match up on the outside versus the opponent's No. 1 receiver. However, they still have two experienced corners in Ty Law and Patrick Surtain who can hold up in head coach Herman Edwards' Cover 2 schemes. Law is a physical corner with outstanding instincts and pattern-recognition skills. Surtain is a solid corner who can be physical from a press alignment; he has good physical traits as an open-field tackler. Both players are on the downside of their careers. FS Greg Wesley is a physical player versus the run but is a liability in coverage in deep zones. Starting SS Bernard Pollard is a good young player who excelled on special teams last season, but he lacks experience as a starter in the NFL.
25. Tennessee Titans
The suspension of Pacman Jones will limit this secondary from a coverage standpoint in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's system. However, the addition of Nick Harper (Colts), Kelly Herndon (Seahawks) and first-round pick Michael Griffin should help lesson the blow on the back end when matching up versus multiple spread formations. Harper is a solid No. 2 corner who plays bigger than his size, while Herndon is best-suited as a backup corner in sub packages. Griffin is a versatile player who can play corner and safety. That said, the Titans still lack a No. 1 cover corner. Starting SS Chris Hope was the most consistent player in the secondary last season versus both the run and pass; he covered up for the weakness of FS Lamont Thompson on the back end.
26. Arizona Cardinals
Pro Bowl SS Adrian Wilson is the best and most versatile player in the Cardinals' secondary. Wilson is a big, physical player who can be effective near the line of scrimmage against the run. He handles a lot of different roles in the Cardinals' complex defensive schemes. Terrence Holt was signed away from the Lions this offseason and is expected to handle the FS position. Holt is a smart, instinctive player, though he lacks ideal speed and range on the back end in deep zones. CB Antrel Rolle, the team's 2005 first-round pick, has been slow in his development and really needs to step up his performance in 2007. Roderick Hood is nothing more than a backup third corner, and Eric Green is expected to battle for the starting CB spot opposite Rolle.
27. St. Louis Rams
CB Tye Hill is a young, developing player who showed good potential as a starter in 2006. Hill is an explosive athlete with top-end speed and natural playmaking skills. He has the ability to develop into the No. 1 corner the Rams desperately need. Starting CB Fakhir Brown is an experienced corner, but he is better-suited as a backup with additional value on special teams. Meanwhile, last year's third corner, Ron Bartell, was very productive in the Rams' sub defensive packages and should compete with Brown and third-round pick Jonathan Wade for the other starting CB position. SS Corey Chavous is a smart, instinctive player who is better against the run than pass at this stage of his career. FS Oshiomogho Atogwe displayed good growth last season and was probably the Rams' most consistent player in '06.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have a lot of question marks regarding coverage on the back end heading into the 2007 season. SS Troy Polamalu is one of the best players at his position in the NFL. He is excellent against the run with his physical stature and playmaking skills. Ryan Clark was the starting FS last year but is best-suited as a backup and could be replaced by second-year player Anthony Smith. Smith is a big, athletic safety who should develop into a frontline starter in time, but he lacks starting experience. CB Deshea Townsend is an experienced starter who lacks size and is best-suited as a backup. Ike Taylor really struggled last season due to his lack of confidence and was replaced by Bryant McFadden. McFadden is an intriguing young player who should compete with Taylor in training camp for a starting CB position.
29. Cleveland Browns
Leigh Bodden is the Browns' best corner, and he has the size and athleticism to be effective on the outside in both regular and sub defensive packages. Experienced CB Gary Baxter continues to be a disappointment due to injuries and may never play again after suffering a patellar tendon injury in both knees last season. Rookie second-round pick Eric Wright should battle backup journeymen Kenny Wright and Daven Holly for the starting position opposite Bodden. Wright has all the tools to develop into a frontline starter, but he lacks experience. SS Sean Jones is a good player with physical traits and playmaking skills. Brodney Pool is expected to be the starting free safety opposite Jones. Pool is a young, developing player who moved into the starting lineup late in the 2006 season.
30. Detroit Lions
Even though backup corner Stanley Wilson showed steady improvement throughout last season, the departure of Dre' Bly (Broncos) leaves the Lions without a true No. 1 corner. Wilson is an intriguing young player based on his athleticism, size and cover skills, while Bly was a poor fit in the Lions' Tampa 2 style defense. Newly signed corner Travis Fisher (Rams) will also compete for Bly's job if he can stay healthy. Starting CB Fernando Bryant is an experienced player who lacks size, and his skills are declining. SS Kenoy Kennedy is a physical player versus the run who is at his best near the line of scrimmage, while last year's second-round pick, Daniel Bullocks, will replace Terrence Holt as the starting FS position.
31. New York Giants
Starting CB Corey Webster has struggled in his development. Webster is a very good athlete with outstanding size for the position. However, he has struggled with consistency and durability in his short NFL career. Sam Madison is a declining player who lacks the physical skills to match up with No. 1 receivers. FS Will Demps is a smart, instinctive player who continues to overcome a major knee injury, but he lacks the ideal playmaking skills expected from the position. SS Gibril Wilson is an aggressive young player who is better against the run than the pass. The addition of first-round pick Aaron Ross should improve a questionable secondary.
32. Houston Texans
The Texans' secondary is a work in progress that showed improvement late in the 2006 season. Starting CB Dunta Robinson is a young, developing player; he is easily the best player in the secondary. He has the physical skills and upside to develop into a solid No. 1 corner in the NFL. DeMarcus Faggins should start opposite Robinson. He is a short, undersized corner who is best-suited as a backup. Starting safeties Glenn Earl and C.C. Brown have yet to provide the playmaking skills on the back end that the Texans so desperately need. Brown is a young, versatile player who is better versus the run than the pass at this stage of his development, while Earl still needs to become more consistent against the pass.
